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Sony has confirmed the full list of new features in the PS4 5.50 firmware update, including PS4 Pro supersampling and the ability to import custom wallpapers via USB.

The PS4 5.50 update rolled out on Friday to invited users, and numerous new features were uncovered. Some of the features we were hoping for in the latest PS4 firmware upgrade include the PSN Name Change feature, a PlayStation Store wishlist and the ability to gift games. However, it looks like none of those are going to make the cut.

However, Sony has now revealed all the sweet feature for your PlayStation 4 aimed to improve your user experience. Let’s take a look…

Play Time Management

Aimed towards families, you’ll now be able to manage the playtime of your children on PSN. There’s a new option in Settings called Family Management where you can set how long they’re allowed to play for, and even restrict them to playing during certain times of the day. The feature will also be accessible via the PlayStation app and via your PlayStation account on your PC browser.
Quick Menu Update

Sony writes: “If you ever want to quickly access specific friends in your custom list, you’ll be able to do so via the pulldown menu under the Friends tab in Quick Menu. You can also see who’s currently online”.

PlayStation Music

There’s also a new shortcut feature relating to music. You can now control the volume button by pressing ‘square’ if you’re using Spotify. You can also control the volume with ‘square’ when listing to music via the USB Music Player or Media Player, as well as press ‘triangle’ to pause.

Additionally, you can now listen to your own music while streaming PlayStation Now games
Custom Wallpapers via USB

You can now import custom PS4 wallpapers directly from USB. We’ve get a great selection of PS4 wallpapers and themes that you can stick onto your USB, so check them out! Even better, you’ll be able to crop them so they fit your dashboard perfectly. You’ll find a new option in Settings > Themes > Select Theme > Custom > Select Image > USB Storage Device.

Customize Tournament Pages

PS4 Team Tournaments have been around since PS4 update 5.0, but there’s now the ability to customize your teams page. Using USB you can now show off your team’s logo or change the background!

PS4 Pro Supersampling

Supersampling on PS4 Pro means that you can boost the resolution of your games even if you’re not using a 4K TV. Providing the game you’re playing is running at 1080p or higher, then its graphics will now look better and deliver higher quality visuals. Guerilla Games technical director Michiel van der Leeuw, Technical Director for Guerrilla explains:

“This is a very high-quality anti-aliasing technique, which basically means we internally render at a higher resolution (close to 4K) before shrinking it down to the final 1080p resolution. As our internal calculations are done at a resolution much higher than 1080p, more detail survives before we shrink it down to 1080p, resulting in smoother edges — virtually no jaggies — and a more stable image.”

Essentially, this means that you don’t need to buy a 4K TV to enjoy a boost in the visual quality with your PS4 Pro, though games on 4K TVs will still look better. However, there may be a downside to this new feature in update 5.50. According to the warning in the beta phase it states: “Results may differ depending on the games. In some games, image quality may not improve, or the frame-rate may change”. So, with some PS4 games you may forfeit game performance in favor of better visuals. Of course, the choice is yours as PS4 Pro supersampling is an optional feature. You’ll need to tick a box to enable the mode.

If you already own Sony’s latest console, then check out the current batch of PS4 Pro Boost Mode compatible games. Boost Mode essentially boosts the framerates of non-patched PS4 Pro games.

PS4 Update 5.50: Hiding beta/demos

Another feature of the new firmware update that will allow you to keep things tidy is the ability to hide your beta and demos in the library section, as well as unwanted games. This means that your PS4 library will be much more streamlined and clean, so you keep all those PS4 exclusives easily accessible and hide all those old betas and demos.

Not only that, but in the side-bar on your library page you’ll now noticed that games purchased directly from the PlayStation Store, and games downloaded as part of your PlayStation Plus members will be filtered.
PS4 5.50 Update: Deleting all notifications

Prior to PS4 system software update 5.50 you couldn’t delete all your notifications. They would hang their forever – even spam messages from people that are totally inappropriate. Now you’ll be able to spring clean your notifications and keep things nice and tidy. Like the ability hide games in your library, this is a quality of life update. Though it may be insignificant to some users, it’s been a much-requested feature over the years.

Supersampling on PS4 Pro means that you can boost the resolution of your games even if you’re not using a 4K TV. Providing the game you’re playing is running at 1080p or higher, then its graphics will now look better and deliver higher quality visuals. Guerilla Games technical director Michiel van der Leeuw, Technical Director for Guerrilla explains:
“This is a very high-quality anti-aliasing technique, which basically means we internally render at a higher resolution (close to 4K) before shrinking it down to the final 1080p resolution. As our internal calculations are done at a resolution much higher than 1080p, more detail survives before we shrink it down to 1080p, resulting in smoother edges — virtually no jaggies — and a more stable image.”
Essentially, this means that you don’t need to buy a 4K TV to enjoy a boost in the visual quality with your PS4 Pro, though games on 4K TVs will still look better. However, there may be a downside to this new feature in update 5.50. According to the warning in the beta phase it states: “Results may differ depending on the games. In some games, image quality may not improve, or the frame-rate may change”. So, with some PS4 games you may forfeit game performance in favor of better visuals. Of course, the choice is yours as PS4 Pro supersampling is an optional feature. You’ll need to tick a box to enable the mode.

Supersampling on PS4 Pro means that you can boost the resolution of your games even if you’re not using a 4K TV. Providing the game you’re playing is running at 1080p or higher, then its graphics will now look better and deliver higher quality visuals. Guerilla Games technical director Michiel van der Leeuw, Technical Director for Guerrilla explains:
“This is a very high-quality anti-aliasing technique, which basically means we internally render at a higher resolution (close to 4K) before shrinking it down to the final 1080p resolution. As our internal calculations are done at a resolution much higher than 1080p, more detail survives before we shrink it down to 1080p, resulting in smoother edges — virtually no jaggies — and a more stable image.”
Essentially, this means that you don’t need to buy a 4K TV to enjoy a boost in the visual quality with your PS4 Pro, though games on 4K TVs will still look better. However, there may be a downside to this new feature in update 5.50. According to the warning in the beta phase it states: “Results may differ depending on the games. In some games, image quality may not improve, or the frame-rate may change”. So, with some PS4 games you may forfeit game performance in favor of better visuals. Of course, the choice is yours as PS4 Pro supersampling is an optional feature. You’ll need to tick a box to enable the mode.

If 4k tv mo, di ka maaapektuhan nito. But if 1080p yung TV mo, you get the benefit of supersampling, sometimes at the expense of performance.

We’re introducing Play Time Management, which will allow family managers (and adult family members who are set as guardians) to manage PS4 playtime for child family members on family on PSN. Managing Playtime is easy; go to Settings > Family Management on your PS4, or log into your PlayStation account on your web browser from your PC or smartphone, to check and manage your child’s playtime each day. If needed, the family manager/guardians can apply playtime restrictions to make sure that the child is only playing for a set amount of time or within set playable hours. Notifications on PS4 will be sent to the child during gameplay so that he or she knows when they should save and quit. The family managers/guardians also have the option to add extra game time via their smartphone or PC. In addition, the family manager/guardians can choose whether or not to automatically log the child out of their PS4 once their playtime is over.

Library UI Updates

“This PS4” and Name/Avatar tab

Two new tabs are being added to Library to make it easier for you to see which apps you’ve installed and purchased. The “This PS4” tab lists all the applications that are installed on the PS4 system, and the tab with your name/avatar lists all the apps that you purchased with your PSN ID. This feature also makes it easy to search and find games you’ve already purchased but have not yet installed.

PS Plus tab

This update also adds a new PS Plus tab to the Library, which clarifies what games you own from PS Plus’ Monthly Free Games. If your PS Plus membership is expired, a PS Plus icon with a lock will appear next to your game so you’ll know you cannot play the game until you’ve re-subscribed.

Hide apps

We’re adding a function that will allow you to hide certain applications under the “Purchased” tab in the Library. In “Options,” you can hide content including betas, trials or demos of games that you probably won’t be going back to.

Quick Menu Enhancements

If you ever want to quickly access specific friends in your custom list, you’ll be able to do so via the pulldown menu under the Friends tab in Quick Menu. You can also see who’s currently online.

Whenever you’re listening to music on PS4, you’ll be able to access certain shortcuts from the Quick Menu. If you’re using Spotify on PlayStation Music, the ‘square’ button will serve as the shortcut for volume control. And when you’re on the Media Player or the USB Music Player, “triangle” will work as the shortcut for play or pause, and the “square” button as the volume control.

Background Music on PS Now

With Background Music on PlayStation Now, you’ll be able to listen to your favorite tracks while streaming a game on PS Now. Just keep in mind that, similar to when playing a game locally on PS4, background music may not always be available.

Notifications Update

This update will give you the ability to delete old notifications for better organization and management. Just go to Notifications and press the “triangle” or “Options” button to open up a menu that will allow you to select a single or multiple notifications you’d like to delete.

Import Custom Wallpapers via USB

Love customizing your PS4 Home Screen? Well, this new update will give you even more options. You can import your own images to PS4 from a USB stick and set it as your wallpaper. You can also zoom and crop your images so they look perfect on your dashboard. Just go to Settings > Themes > Select Theme > Custom > Select Image > USB Storage Device.

Customize Tournaments Team Pages

Following the 5.50 update, you’ll be able to customize your Tournaments team page with your own team logo or background that you can import from a USB stick. Represent your team by customizing your team page with something unique and original! To set your logo and background, head over to Events > Teams > select your team > Edit Team Profile.

Supersampling Mode on PS4 Pro

PS4 Pro users will see a new “supersampling mode” under Settings, which enables those with HDTVs (i.e., 1080p or less) to enjoy an enhanced visual experience when playing some PS4 games. With supersampling mode, games that render to a higher resolution when connected to a 4K TV will downscale to match the HDTV – allowing PS4 Pro owners to leverage the benefits of an image clarity boost even if they don’t own a 4K TV. Certain games already have “supersampling” benefits as part of their “PS4 Pro Enhanced” feature set, but this new mode can enhance the experience for those games that don’t already have the feature. Because PS4 Pro’s added power and modes benefit different games in different ways, please note that certain games’ image clarity may not improve with this new feature.